Baby&#39;s seat and table



c. D. ANDERSON BABY'S SEAT AND TABLE April 5, 1949.

2 She'ets-Sheet 1 Filed June '19, 1947 NV ENTOR LES 0. ANDERSON,

I jaiilaw v ATTORNEYS April 5, 1949'. c. D. ANDERSON BABYS SEAT ANDTABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed June 19, 1947 lllll FIG.8

FIG.9

N O S. R E D R N T. A E VD. N S E L R A H C ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 5,1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BABYS SEAT AND TABLE Charles D.Anderson, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 19, 1947, Serial No. 755,782

8 Claims. (Cl. 155-123) This invention relates to folding tableconstructions and particularly to the structure of a combined babys seatand table.

The main objects of this invention are to pro- ;vide an improvedconstruction for a childs seat and table which can be readily collapsedfor comand construction of the seat members of such a device so thatthey can be readily adjustable to accommodate the growth of the childand so that when they are set up for use, they will have an interlockingrelation which prevents relative I movement of parts and likelihood ofinjury to I the occupant.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the external appearance of thecombined seat and table.

Fig. 2 is a top plan drawn to a smaller scale, with parts of the tabletop broken away to show some of the structure below.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of the mounting for the table legs taken onthe line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view with the top panel of the tableremoved and showing the relation of the parts that are below the tabletop, when these are in the position for use.

Fig. 7 is a detail of a clamp for securing the parts in their collapsedposition.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail of a fastening at one end of the footrest.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the device, shown bottom up, as itappears when the parts are in their collapsed position for storage orshipment.

In the form shown in the drawings, the table comprises a rectangular topframe I comprising opposed side bars 2, a front bar 3 and rear bar 4connected end to end at right angles to each other and with their jointsreinforced by substantial, triangular corner blocks 5. These blocks haveblind socket bores 6 extending upwardly from the bottoms thereof toreceive the table legs 1 which are each fixed in place by means of awing-headed set screw 8 threaded through a nut 9 seated in a socket II],as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The rear bar 4 has a slot l I flush with the tops of the adjacentreinforcing blocks 5 to receive the corresponding edge of the table toppanel I2 which is proportioned to rest on the corner blocks 5, with itsedges abutting the inside faces of the top frame bars 2 and 3. Thistable top is provided with a seat opening l3 adjacent its rear edge andof suitable dimensions to permit a small child to be placed upon theseat below. 7

The babys seat comprises a seat panel l4 supported at an appropriatedistance below the level of the table top l2 and a back rest panel l5which extends upwardly through the opening l3. The seat mountingcomprises a pair of side members l6, preferably in the form of wideboards, normally spaced apart in parallel vertical planes with theirupper edges appropriately positioned to support the top panel l2 at thesides of the opening I3.

The side members. l6 are preferably proportioned to span the interior ofthe top frame I and are pivotally connected to the top frame bars 3 and4 by means of axially alined dowels l1 and I8, respectively, on whichthe side members l6 may be swung from the normal upright position inwhich they are shown in Fig. 6 to a retracted po- 5 sition parallel withthe top panel, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 5, and as shown inFig. 9.

Blocks l9 on the frame bar 4 act as limit stops to prevent the sidemembers Hi from swinging on their pivotal axes beyond the verticalpositions in which they are shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The side members l6 are each provided with a plurality of horizontalgrooves 20 in their opposed faces, in which the side edges of the seatpanel M are inserted in tongue-and-groove relation, as

, will be understood from Figs. 4 and 6, the panel l4 being slidablehorizontally in such grooves and being insertable in any pair of suchgrooves at the cut-away front edge 2| of the side members l6.

Similarly, the side members l6 are provided with a plurality ofrespectively matching opposed pairs of vertically disposed grooves 22which provide similar slidable tongue-and-groove connections between theback rest panel l5 and the side members I6 for various positions ofhorizontal adjustment of the back rest, as will be understood from Fig.4.

The seat panel I4 is provided with one or more transverse sockets orslots 23 and the back panel I5 is provided with a tongue 24 adaptedto beseated in one of said slots 23 to adjust the front to back length of theseat. I

By providing a plurality of horizontal grooves 20, the elevation of theseat l4 may be adjusted to suit the growth of the child. The multiplegrooves 22 in the side member i6 likewise permit of adjustment of theback rest panel l and the tongues 24 and slots 23 provide an interlockbetween these sliding panels which prevents accidental shifting of thepanel I 4 through the movements of the childs body.

A footrest 25 is carried in suitable position by a pair of arms 26 and21 which are pivotally mounted at 28 on the outer sides of the sidemembers IS. The footrest 2:5 is preferably hinged at 29 to the arm 26and is mortised at 30 to the arm 21 where it is locked by a pin 3!. Inthis way the footrest is securely attached to the arms 26 and 21 when inuse but may be readily disconnected from the arm 21 and folded backagainst the arm 26 when the table is collapsed for storage.

Blocks 32 of cam formation are pivoted on the side bars H5 at 33 and areprovided with a plurality of flat surfaces 34, 35 and 36 on theirperipheries at different distances from the pivot 33 so as to provideselective angular positions for the footres't 25 with respect to theseat l4. By means of these angular adjustments of the footrest and thehorizontal and vertical adjustment of the seat and back rest, theseating devices are readily adjustable for the size and comfort of thechild.

By providing a substitute table top panel, not

shown, which is not provided with an opening 13, as shown in the tabletop panel l2, the table is adapted for other purposes than thaccommodation of a baby on the seat.

At times when the seat is not in use and when the table is to be puttosuch-other uses, as aforesaid, the seating equipment may be foldedinto the interior of the top frame so as to be out of the way and out ofsight behind the sidebars of the table top frame. To bring the partsinto such folded position, *the back rest I5 and seat panel M are slidout of their grooves in the side members l6 and the side members areswung inwardly and upwardly on their pivoted axes H and 18 to theposition in which they are shown by broken lines in Fig. 5 and by fulllines in Fig. b, after the footrest 25 is disconnected from the arm nand folded backward against the arm 26 and these arms are swung intoappropriate positions on their pivotal connections to the side members16. When the side members are thus retracted, there is room within thespace enclosed by the top frame side bars for the panels 14 and P5 to belaid above the side members I 6 and below the top panel, as will beunderstood from "Fig. 5.

A clamping device 31, illustrated in Figs. '7 and 9, is providedforsecuring the parts in this folded position. This clamp comprises ahead bar 38, a threaded shank '39 and a wing nut 40 which cooperate withthe arm '21 and the seat and back panels H and T5 to hold the parts "intheir folded positions. For this purpose, the arm 21 is provided with anaperture H, the seat panel is provided with an aperture 42 and the backpanel with an aperture 43 to receive the shank '39.

When the device is conditioned for storage, the legs 1 are releasedbythe-clam-ps 8 and'withdrawn from the sockets in the corner pieces 5and may be held in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 9 by theclamp 37, the head bar 38 of the clamp being provided with notches orcross grooves 44 to embrace and hold the table 'legs 1, as shown in Fig.9.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shownand described, it will .be:understood'that'numerousdetails ofthe'structure shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. A babys seat and table, comprising a top frame, a pair of spaced sidemembers spanning a seat space in said frame, means pivotally connectingeither end of said members to said frame whereby each of said sidemembers may be swung on a longitudinal axis from a normal uprightposition to one of approximate planar parallelism with the plane of saidtop frame, limit stops for said side members at their normal uprightpositions, a seat member having generally horizontally slidinginterfitting relation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes ofsaid side members below the pivot points of said members when in theirsaid upright positions and operating to hold said side members againstsaid limit stops.

2. A babys seat and table, comprising a top frame, a pair of spaced sidemembers spanning a seat space in'said frame, means pivotally connectingeither end of said members to said frame whereby each of said sidemembers may be swun on a longitudinal axis from a normal uprightposition to one of approximate planar parallelism with the plane of saidtop frame, limit stops for said side members at their normal uprightpositions, a seat member having generally horizontally slidinginterfitting relation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes ofsaid side members below the pivot points of said members when in theirsaid upright positions and operating to hold said side members againstsaid limit stops, and a back rest member having generally verticalsliding 35 'interfitting tongue and groove connection to said sidemembers, said seat member having a socket, and said back rest memberhaving a tongue :to engage said socket and lock said seat member in afixed position in relation to said side members.

3. A babys seat and table, comprising a top frame, a pair of spaced sidemembers spanning a seat space in said frame, means pivotally connectingeither end-of said members to said frame whereby each of said sidemembers may be swung on a longitudinal axis from a normal uprightposition to one of approximate planar parallelism with the plane of saidtop frame, limit stops for said side members at their normal uprightposi tions, and a seat member removably interposed between said sidemembers below the pivot points "of said members and operative in suchinterposed position to hold said side members against said limit stops.

4. A babys seat and table, comprising a top frame, a pair of spaced sidemembers spanning a seat space in said frame, means pivotally connectingeitherendcf said members to said fram whereby each of said side membersmay be swung on a longitudinal axis from a normal upright position toone of approximate planar parallelism with the plane of said top frame,limit stops for said side members at their normal upright positions, anda seat member removably interposed between said side members below thepivotpoints of said members, means on said side members to support saidseat member at diiferent elevations, and said seat member beingoperative in such interposed positions to hold said side members againstsaid limit stops in each such position.

5. A babys seat and table, comprising a top frame, a pair of spaced sidemembers spanning a seat space in said frame, means pivotally connectingeither end of said members to said frame whereby each of'sa'id' sidemembers may be swung on a longitudinal axis from a normal uprightposition to one of approximate planar parallelism with the plane of saidtop frame, limit stops for said side members at their normal uprightpositions, and a seat member removably interposed between said sidemembers, means on said side members to support said seat member atdifferent elevations below the pivot points of said members anddifferent front-to-back positions, and said seat member being operativein each such position to hold said side members against said limitstops.

6. A babys seat and table, comprising a top frame, a pair of spaced sidemembers spanning a seat space in said frame, means pivotally con--necting either end of said members to said frame whereby each of saidside members may be swung on a longitudinal axis from a normal uprightposition to one of approximate planar parallelism with the plane of saidtop frame, limit stops for said side members at their normal uprightpositions, a seat member removably interposed between said side membersbelow the pivot points of said members and operative in such interposedposition to hold said side members against said limit stops, a footrest,a pair of arms pivoted on said side arms and carrying said footrest,said footrest being hinged to fold against one of said arms and beingremovably attached to the other, whereby said footrest and arms may beretracted with said side members into the interior of said top framewhen said seat member is withdrawn from said side members.

'7. A babys seat and table, comprising a top frame, a pair of spacedside members spanning a seat space in said frame, means pivotallyconnecting either end of said members to said frame whereby each of saidside members may be swung on a longitudinal axis from a normal uprightposition to one of approximate planar parallelism with the plane of saidtop frame, limit stops for said side members at their normal uprightpositions, said side members having a series of horizontal grooves atcorresponding elevations below the pivot points of said members in theiropposed faces when occupying their normal upright positions, a seatpanel having marginal tongue portions on their opposite sides forslidably engaging the respective opposed grooves in said side members,said seat panel operating to hold said side members against said limitstops.

8. A babys seat and table, comprising a top frame, a pair of spaced sidemembers spanning a seat space in said frame, means pivotally connectingeither end of said members to said frame whereby each of said sidemembers may be swung on a longitudinal axis from a normal uprightposition to one of approximate planar parallelism with the plane of saidtop frame, limit stops for said side members at their normal uprightpositions, said side members having a series of horizontal grooves atcorresponding elevations in their opposed faces below the pivot pointsof said members when occupying their normal upright positions, a seatpanel having marginal tongue portions on their opposite sides forslidably engaging the respective opposed grooves in said side members,said seat panel operating to hold said side members against said limitstops, said side members each having a series of grooves in its innerface transverse to its horizontal grooves and respectively registeringwith such transverse grooves in the other side member, and a back restpanel having side marginal tongue portions slidably fitting pairs ofopposed trans-verse grooves of said side members, said backrest panelhaving a depending tongue at the lower end thereof, and. said seat panelhaving a series of sockets coacting with said tongue of said backrestpanel for selective adjustment of the front to back position of saidseat panel.

CHARLES D. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,465,291 Walker Aug. 21, 19232,397,528 Brandwin Apr. 2, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date188,716 Germany Sept. 12, 1907

